The Voice of the Prophets

The Voice of the Prophets

The Seven letters - Praise and Censure -

Promise and Persecution.

Ephesus is praised for discernment - Rev. 2.2 and opposition to false teachers - Rev.2.6 (Acts. 15. 28 - 29 ) but censured for apathy and called to repentance - Rev. 2 .4 - 5. ( Ephesians 6. 18 )

Pergamos is praised for faithfulness - Rev. 2 . 13 - but censured for tolerating false teachers - Rev. 2.15 and called to repentance - Rev.2. 16.

Symrna is encouraged to stand firm - Rev 2 . 9 - 11

Thyatira is censured for harbouring a false prophet - Rev 2. 20

Laodicea is censured as lukewarm - Rev. 3. 16 but also given a promise of revival - Rev. 3. 18 and 20

Philadelphia is given a wonderful promise - Rev. 3.7.

Sardis is censured for compromise - Rev. 3.1

The Role of the Prophet

Rugged and Reliable

" Blessed are you when men shall persecute you falsely for my sake - for so persecuted they the Prophets " Matt. 5 : 11 - 12

Some of the prophets who appear unannounced ( Listed below)

Joel Joel1.1

Micah Micah 1.1

Miriam Exodus 15. 20

Deborah Judges 4.4 - 5.7

Huldah 2 Kings 22. 14

The Prophets whose CALL is recorded

Abraham Genesis 20.7 / Genesis 12 .1 - 3 / Genesis 12 .4

Moses...the Burning Bush. His Excuses. Exodus 3.11 / Exodus 4. 10

Samuel... in the Temple. 1 Samuel 3.7 / Matthew 18.4 / Matthew18.6 / 1 Samuel 3. 10 / 1 Samuel 3. 12

Isaiah... Isaiah 6. 1 / Isaiah 6.5 / Luke 5.8 / Isaiah 6.8 / 6. 9

Jeremiah Jeremiah 1. 5 / Jeremiah 1 .6

Jonah Jonah 1 . 1 - 3 / Jonah 3. 1 - 2

Amos Amos 7. 14

The Pretenders of the Past

User - Friendly False Prophets

Who is This Jezebel? Rev. 2. 19 / Rev. 2. 21 / 1 Kings 16. 30 / 16. 33 / 18. 4 / 2 Kings 9. 30 - 37

The False Prophets - described by the true prophets -

Jeremiah Jeremiah 6. 13 - 14 / 8. 10 - 11

Zephaniah Zephaniah 3. 1 - 4

Jesus Matthew 7. 15

Paul Acts 20 . 28 - 30

Ezekiel Ezekiel 22. 28

How do we Recognise False Prophets

Matthew Matthew7. 15 - 16 / Matthew 7. 16 / Amos 8 . 1 -2

The acid test : Deut. 18. 21 / Deut. 18. 22

The Motivation of The False Prophet

Personal Gain. Personal Prestige. Personal Authority

Secular preoccupation with prediction - (Collossions 2 : 8) The cults of Astrology, tea leaves, palmistry.

The Bewares in the New Testament

"Beware of false Prophets" Matthew 7. 15

"Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees" Matthew 16. 6

"Beware of the Scribes" Mark 12. 38

"Beware of evil workers" Philippians 3. 2

"Beware of philosophy and empty deceit" Colossians 2. 8

"Beware less you .......fall away from your own steadfastness....but grow in GRACE, and in the KNOWLEDGE of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory now and forever!" 2 Peter 3 : 17 - 18

This material has been writtern by Major Arthur Brown.